Why Does the President Keep Insisting on "Entitlement Reform" During the Debt Debate?

[jtown1123]

No one is suggesting that we can't or shouldn't reform these programs...our problem is any "reforms" or "adjustments" that are proposed now, when everyone is frothing over "debts" and "deficits" and we have a lovely "Super Committee," will result in cuts, PERIOD.

For example, these are all cuts:

1. Raising the eligibility ages for Social Security and Medicare
2. Means testing Social Security
3. Switching the SS COLA to Chained CPI

This is what the President said recently on his tour:

President Obama has again acknowledged the necessity of doing something many Democrats fiercely oppose -- reforming entitlement programs, such as Medicare and Social Security.

On a Midwest bus tour stop in Minnesota, Obama spoke in favor of changes to entitlement programs being eyed by the 12-member congressional committee charged with finding budget savings that will get past partisan gridlock, stave off future credit downgrades and increase the federal debt limit by $1.5 trillion.

"There have been times when our side, when Democrats aren’t always as flexible as we need to be," Obama said. "Sometimes I do get frustrated when I hear folks say, 'You can't make any changes to any government programs.' Well, that can't be right."

The president has repeatedly conceded that something must be done, saying Medicare in particular cannot survive without reform.

"We will not be able to sustain that program no matter how much taxes go up," he said in late July. "I mean, it's not an option for us to just sit by and do nothing."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/15/obama-talks-up-entitlement-changes-as-dems-resist/#ixzz1VCPO4ypt

**NOTE: I know the above piece is from Fox News, and before everyone freaks, it was the best example of quotes I could find on this**


It is very dangerous to keep harping on "reform" when our real problem is unemployment and a housing crisis. Deficit reduction is just a huge distraction from what our real crisis is: LACK OF JOBS. Cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid isn't going to achieve much except for causing incredible suffering across the board.

I am legitimately curious, why does the President and his economic team think this is a winning message? Polls show Americans hate cuts to these programs...whether your a Republican, a Democrat or the sought after voter: The Independent.

The last American President that hit the road to talk to Americans about cutting benefits was was George W. Bush. This isn't good. A Democratic President using GOP talking points.

[Mr Deltoid]

1. Trying to entice Republcians into going along with him

Problem is, it always falls on deaf ears. Republicans play winner take all, they don't share. Until Obama realizes this, he will be in a self imposed limbo.

[jtown1123]

3. Yes, but at this point, he must know there will be no bipartisanship on this issue. n/t

[MannyGoldstein]

5. He's been at this since before his inauguration

And appointing a "Deficit Commission" designed to recommend deep cuts was staggering.

[jtown1123]

7. I realize that. Even if he fervently wants cuts, how can he deny the polls that it will hurt him?

[Autumn]

2. I don't get it. I just can't understand why

he is just embracing the talking points of the nutty right.

[Myrina]

4. .. because he's a DINO ...

.... his track record oughta make that pretty clear.

[Autumn]

6. I agree he's a DINO, but he is smart enough to

know how badly he is screwing up. Not only his re election but the whole damn country. Does he not care that there are lunatics running for his job? Does he have to try to hand it to them on a silver platter? He seems to be running to lose.

[Enthusiast]

27. "He seems to be running to lose."

The only thing keeping him at all competitive is the poor quality of his opponents. Somehow I doubt that this is just a coincidence. There is something very strange afoot. We were played and we continue to be played.

[jtown1123]

8. Even DINOs need to win reelection. This is not a winning strategy. Why not pretend like in '08? n/t

[Lorien]

25. Because he is part of the nutty Right

working hard to destroy the Left from the inside out.

[n2doc]

9. Because his donor base demands it

Face it, he isn't working for us. He is working for those folks making the 50K donations to his campaign, who hire the wives and family members of his staff ( and maybe eventually marry his daughters - hello Chelsea!). Those folks hate SS and medicare, and are using Obama as the "Nixon goes to China" mole to get them on the path to destruction.

[BlueDemKev]

10. It's a nice soundbite

Words like "Entitlement Reform" sounds nice to independent/swing voters and he portrays himself as a person willing to be the adult on compromise, contrasting him from the childish, "I want everything, no 10 to 1 deal!"-mentality of the tea-baggers.

[jtown1123]

13. I don't know. It's very concerning language. Indepents don't like cuts to programs. n/t

[BlueDemKev]

26. Independents want all the public services but do NOT want to pay taxes to fund them....

...but they also hate partisanship and are more inclined to vote for someone who appears more "down-to-earth" and is willing to rise above the partisan fray.

[Romulox]

11. Occam: It's what he believes. nt

[Bluenorthwest]

12. He's using some of the lowest rhetorical tricks, including 'some

say'. I personally have never heard anyone say we can't make ANY changes to ANY government programs. Stawman argument with a 'some say' non quote and the works. Beneath the dignity of the office.
Anyone here ever meet anyone who said 'no changes of any kind to any government program?' Here among those who voted for change, anyone really opposed to all change, as the President claims?

[jtown1123]

14. There's nothing more I hate than "some say" nonsense. Who said that exactly? n/t

[Doctor_J]

15. He likes hearing FDR & LBJ roll in their graves

and he knows that if us real Dems threaten to withhold our support, the DINOs will scream at us.

[Doctor_J]

16. You know how the DINOs & apologists are always saying that WE blame Dems instead of Repukes?

Here's their Messiah speaking:

"There have been times when our side, when Democrats aren’t always as flexible as we need to be," Obama said. "Sometimes I do get frustrated when I hear folks say, 'You can't make any changes to any government programs.' Well, that can't be right."

Now who's blaming Dems instead of Repukes?

[_ed_]

18. The beatings will continue until morale improves. n/t

[_ed_]

17. Why? Because he's a conservative using conservative framing

of this issue.

[Inuca]

19. You cannot equate what Obama is saying

with Bush wanting to privatize SS, two different universes.

[jtown1123]

22. Still pretty surreal...considering these are not pressing problems right now.

[Dappleganger]

20. Why do you think he's spouting right-wing talking points?

Because he chooses to get his information from their same resources, that's why.

[bemildred]

21. His political advisors are shallow self-serving morons? nt

[jtown1123]

23. Pretty much n/t

[amborin]

24. why did he insist Soc Sec & Medicare be on the table during the "debt ceiling" debates?